Well screen



W. H. CATER. WELL-SCREEN.

APPLICATION FILED ocr. I8. 1920.

Patented @et MP, i922,

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lIILLIAM H. CATER, 0F CHICAGO, ILLINOIS.

WELL SCREEN.

Application filed October 18, 1920. Serial No. 417,699.

4which are forced or fed downwardly in the ground step by step as the sinking of the well progresses, the invention relating more l particularly or especially to structural and functional improvements in the sharp-edged Haring foot or bell-shaped shoe with which the lower end of the metal casing is fitted.

In the sinking of a well in which such a lining or lcasing is used, the latter is loaded or weighted, as by `a box or receptacle charged with stones or other heav bodies 'resting on its top, or otherwise, to acilitate its descent, the lower end of the casing -having a Haring, apertured or foraminated, sharp-edged base or foot on which the weight of the casi-ng and its load is imposed. As will be readily understood, such bellshaped foot orv shoe is driven or sunk 1nto the ground by the weight referred to, such action being aided by its thin front or bottom cutting edge. Y

' A pump suspended on the lower end of a cable or chain is lowered in such casing, and when it rests on the ground at the lower end of the well opening and within such base or shoe, it is manipulated by the cable or chain to'create a high degree of suction resulting in the pump being automatically filled with water and earth, a part of which flows into the casing through the apertures of such bell foot and around the lower edge of the latter, the remainder being sucked into the pump from the ground surrounded by the bell and on which the pump rests. Such sudden `removal of a charge of earth beneath the casing by reason ofthe suction created and the weight of the casing itself and the load on its upper end causes the shell or casing to descend a substantial amount. l

The pump, which is filled with dirt, gravel,

' and water, of which a material percentage is to one side of the mouth of the well, whereupon the ump is again lowered into the well` and t e operation repeated. In this way the depth of the well isI increased interl mittently and progressively. 60 Obviously, the descent of the sheet-metal c aslng with its relatively large area of frictional contact with the outside or surroundlng earth is an important factor in the production of such wells and diiiiculty has heretofore been experienced in causing such downward travel with proper facility.

I have,`however, discovered a very simple means to overcome this detriment and obstacle tothe wholly satisfactory operation of the appliance and to assist the casing and its shoe in its intermittent or periodical downward movements. The means necessary to produce the desired results is eX- tremely simple, its desirability and the effectiveness of its action having apparently escaped the notlce and attention of those skilled in this art and acquainted with these structures and their modes of operation.

It will be recalled that the strong suction 8 0 of the pump dislodges and carries away a substantial amount of earth from the lower end of the well and due to such removal, the shell or casing is free to descend by gravity, but such movement is opposed by the relatively large amount of :frictiony of the earth pressing against its outer face, whereby such downward travel of the casing is dependent in large measure upon the weight imposed thereon to force it down. The leading object of-my invention is to employ Vthe suction action of the pump itself to directly assist in pressing the casing down, and toemploy ,the weight of the earth resting on the outwardly flaring surface of the shoe to assist in this action. As stated, the suction of the pump is exerted -at the lower end of the latter while it is at the bottom of thef well, and my inventionV aims to `take advantage of this great pressure to assist in loosening and pulling away the earth directly beneath thev edge of the casing foot or Shoe and to employ the suction action specified to also assist in drawing down the casing. To this end, instead of employing a perforated or apertured flaring base or shoe,

ythrough the holes of which water may iow inwardly during the occurrence of the suction action, I use an unperforated or unapertured base or foot forv the caslng whereby 55 ientl the suction action is not at least in part negatived or neutralized by the ywater flowing through the holes of the foot or base, but on the ,contrary by employing the unperforated,

bell-shaped shoe, suction is exerted more effectively to draw the earth from beneath the edge of the shoe or foot, and because such hydraulic action is brought into operation around the lower edge of the shoe, the

external downward pressure both of the earth and water on the flaring outer surface of the shoe aids the pushing of the latter down as is required to secure facility and effectiveness in the descent of this member.

This beneficial and advantageous action occurs regardless of whether the casing member is apertured or reticulated so long as the foot or shoe is unperforated because the great suction occurs within the latter. l

To enable those skilledin this art to have a full and complete understanding of this invention and the various advantages accruing from its use, in the accompanying drawing, forming a part of this specification and to whi h reference should be had in connection with he following detailed description, I

have illustrated' a referred and desirable embodiment of the invention, like reference characters referring to the same parts throughout the several views.

I 1n this drawing:

Figure 1 is a vertical central section through the well-casing and its shoe and the enclosed pump; p

Figure 2 is a horizontal section on line 2 2 of Figure 1 on a reduced scale; and

.F igre 3 is a horizontal section ongline 3 3 of Figure l.

Referring to these drawin the perforated or reticulated sheet-meta casing or lining 10 for the well is built up of a. series of abutting cylindrical sections fastened together .endwise in any approved manner,

each portion having, Aif desired, valthough they are not essential, xa plurality of apertured slits formed preferably by deforming outwardly small4 sections or strips of the metal leaving slits or slots between them and the main body of the casin Such cyl-- indrical shell at its lower end ts in and is l wideninglor upwar ly converging cast-metal foot or s frustum of a cone, such member convenlongitudinal sections 12, 13, and 14 bolted together 4at 15, 15 and having arelatively sharp lower edge whereby 1t may more readily penetrate the earth. The weight or load imposed on the upper end of such shell or lining is not shown.

The pump referred to comprises a. cylinder 17 which at its-lower end lits over and is secured toa base-'ring 18 the bottom edge of which is notched or recessed at 19, 19 for the oe 11 of a shape approximating thej beingfcompos'ed of a plurality of passage inwardly :therethrough of water, earth, gravel, etc. Such end element 18 within the lower part of the cylinder 17 is equipped with a hinged valve 20 disposed in an inclined relation, when closed over the end of member 18, to facilitate its upward opening movement'under the suction action to which it is subjected.

Internally the pump cylinder accommodates a reciprocatory perforated piston or plunger 21 mounted ixedly on the lower end of a vertical rod or shaft 22 having an eye 23 at its upper end for the attachment of an operating cable or chain not shown. A round flexible valve 24, such as leather or rubber, is positioned over the top face of the plunger and is adapted to open and close the holes of the latter depending upon the direction of movement of the parts as will be readily understood. A. coil cushion spring 25 surrounds the rod or shaft just above such valve.

At the top end ofthe pump, rod,` or shaft 22 slides through al bearing-block 26 swivelled at 27, 27 in t-he walls of the pump cylinder, the latter being cut away on one side at 28 for the sidewise discharge of the pumps contents, during which operation the rod or shaft 22, by reason of the turning of the bearing-block, occupies a recess 29 cut in the.

opposite side of the pump cylinder.

rl`he operation .of this appliance occurs practically as follows: Assuming that the casing or lining 10 and the shoe or foot 11 have been weighted or loaded at the top end of the former, .the pump is lowered in the well and the casing until the base ring 18 rests on the earth at the bottom of 'the well, in which position it willi be surrounded by the element'll, the piston or plunger 21 being lowered to the bottomport-ion of the pump shell or cylinder 17, the valve 20 at this time being closed. Then the cable or chain engaging the eye 23 is lifted causing the rapid ascent of the piston or plunger which creates a high degree of suction beneath it, such' unbalancing of pressures occasionin the openin of valve 20 and the filling o the pumpl c inder beneath the piston with a mixture ofy dirt, gravel, water, etc. Owing t9 the fact that such substantial suction is created by the pump in the unapertured or unperforated sloping gravity foot or shoe, it is particularly efect1ve,-because the shoe or foot is without holes or inlet, in removing earth from beneath the foot or shoe, and in sucking or drawing the latter downwardly, which actionnof course,vv is assisted gavity through the earth pressing down on t e sloping outer face of the shoe. If the bell-shaped foot were apertured, the water in flowing inwardly through such perforations would ltend to? draw the surroundingv earth inwardly in the same direction, which action would render no aistance in the necessary and essential downward travel of the Manera casing. `Where, however, an unapertured foot or shoe is employed, the outside earth tends to be drawn or sucked downwardly on the sloping surface of the shoe by reason of the suction action present around its bottom edge and such tendency to downward movement by reason of thev suction is supplemented by the action of gravity on such earth which effectively and efficiently assists in forcing the casing or lining downwardly. rllhus it will be seen that a marked and distinct advantage is had in employing an unperforated foot or shoe andl it is in the use of such a member that the present invention resides.

Those skilled in this art will understand that the invention is not necessarily limited and restricted to the precise and exact embodiment shown and described since such structure may be changed more or less in mechanical details without departurey from the substance and essence of the invention and without the sacrificev ofany of its substantial benefits and advantages.

I claim:`

l. As an article of manufacture, the combination of asheet-metal casing adapted to' line a well composed of sections of substantially-uniform diameter throughout their individual lengths united together endwise by external couplings, and an unperforated foot flaring outwardly downwardly both externally and internally in approximately the same degree and secured to the lower end of said casing, said foot having a lower relatively-sharp earth-cutting edge of materially greater diameter thanthe external diameter of said couplings joining together the sections of the casing.

2. As an article of manufacture, the combination of a sheet-metal casing adapted to line a well composed of sections of substantially-uniform diameter throughout their individual lengths united together endwise by external couplings, and an unperforated downwardly outwardly Haring foot secured to the lower end of said casing, said foot having a lower relatively-sharp earth-cutting edge of materially greater diameter than the external diameter of the couplings joining together the sections of the casing, the outer faceof said foot at said edge being practical] cylindrical, the inner face of said foot at sald edge being substantially conical.

3. As an artlcle of manufacture, the combination of a sheet-metal casing adapted to line a well composed of sections of substantialiy-uniform diameter throughout their individual lengths united together endwise by external couplings, and an unperforated foot Haring outwardly downwardly both externally and interna ly in approximately the same degree and secured to the lower end of the casing, said foot having a lower relatively-sharp earth-cutting edge of materially sections secured together lengthwise the foot l and fastened to the lower end of the sheetmetal well casing, said foot flaring outwardly downwardly both externally and internally in approximately the same degree and having a lower relatively-sharp earthcutting edge of materially greater diameter than the external diameter of the couplings joining together the sections of the casing, the outer face pf said foot at said'edge being practically cylindrical, the inner face of said foot at said edge being substantially conical.

As an article. of manufact-ure, a castmetal, unperforated foot with a lower relatively-sharp edge, composed of a plurality of sections securedtogether lengthwise the foot and adapted vfor application to the lower end of a sheet-metal well-casing, the outer face of said foot atsaid edge being practically cylindrical, the inner face of said foot at said edge being substantially conical.

6. As an article of manufacture, a castmetal unperforated foot with a lower relatively-sharp edge composed of a plurality of sections secured together lengthwise the foot and adapted for application to the lower end of a sheet-metal well-casing, said foot flaring outwardly downwardly both externally and interhally in approximately the same degree, the outer face of said foot being practically cylindrical at said edge, the inner face of said foot at said edge being substantially conical.

7. ln an appliance for sinking wells, the combination of a sheet-metal casing adapted to line said well composed of sections of substantially uniform diameter throughout their individual lengths united together endwise by external couplings, an unperforated foot flaring outwardly downwardly both externally and internally in approximately the same degree and secured to the lower end of said casing, said foot having a lower relatively-sharp earth-cutting edge of materially greater diameter than the external diameter of said couplings joining together the secposite sides of the foot assists inthe descent of the casing and foot.

8. vIn an appliance for sinking wells, the combination of a sheet-metal casing adapted to line a well composed of sections of substantially uniform diameter throughout their individual lengths united together endwise by external couplings, an unperforated downwardly outwardly Haring foot secured to the lower end of said casing, said foot having a lower relatively-sharp earthcutting edge of lnaterially greater diameter than the external diameter of the couplings joining'Y together the sections of the casing, the outer face of said foot at said edge bein practically cylindrical, the inner face of sai foot-at said edge being substantially conical, and a pump to create a suction in said foot for the removal of earth and sinking of the well, whereby the creation of such suction in the unperforated foot by unbalancing the pressures on the opposite sides of the foot assists in the descent of the casing and foot.

WILLIAM H. CATER- 

